New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-08
FOB IND AGAINST TIE NEWSP1PERS
OPINIONS OF SPEAKERS AT TIE BAPTIST SOCIAL

OPINIONS OF SPEAKERS AT The BAPTIST. SOCIAL
UNION DINNER
The Baptist Social Union dined at Demoncos iast
night and afterward discussed TIE Moral influence
of the Secular Press" j. IL. Cunning presided
Among the others present were the Rev. Robert
Collyer the Rev. DR.. Patton Editor OF The Baptist
Weekly" James B. Colgate, F. B. Harper ;. arthur
Barratt James Pyle. f. T. Allen, William lsdscs, d.
F. JudsOu, II. L. Chaplin ). ID. squire, ana =. d.
Townsend. Ros ~ ell Smith, president OF The Cen
fury Company had promised TO open the diseuSs'o'
He did not appear in ersOn but seat paper winch
Mr.. Barratt read Mr.. Smith quoted at great Length
from Andrew Carneigie's =" triumphant ne aocrae',
to show how enormous the power OF the press had
grown to be in America. In 1880 there were ii $50
Periodicals. issued fourfiths OF thea newspapers
Togetber they had q circulation OF 32,OoOooU or
each issue s'The New-York Herald" Mr.. Smith said.
had sent Stanley into the heart OF Africa to rescue
Livingstone. The NETWORK TRIBUNE had been
Governor 1ildens ally in the exposure OF the cana
Rinr frauds of lS74-75 and in lS76'17 1t Lad
brought to light the famous cipher dispatt hes Inc
moral influence OF the press was good, beneficial be-
yord human thought The Russian Nihlists in the
1893" trial had prayed not for pardon or lenency Luz
for public report OF their cases Cbiteo laiS' TOO
was due to the power OF the press
Mr.. Smith sent with his address fac-simile OF " ne
Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser Dated
Philadelphia, september 81, 1854 1t contained
among other things accoun OF murder and suicide
in Martin que and a dis patch" from Ireland about
the birth OF triplets in County MONAGHAN.
The Rev. Robert Coyer said that the press Was
one OF the for good that he knew OF
Newspapers more WIDELY ami faithfully read
NOWADAYS than the Bible. The newspaper reports
impartialIy murder and sermon. giving tho murder
more space ucrbaps yet one could scarcely ma auIt
with that Laughter ArerOrier would risk ms ne
In an earthuuake TO get the facts ABOUT It, III there
had been a reporter in Sodom when it was RAINING ire
he would have put shutter his head and hustled
around for the details of the catastrophe. Laughter
The press had noble work against opblic CORFU
ton exposing all sorts vi frauds and crimes Ii was
an everlasting standing committee OF inquiry and IN
vestigation. Papers sometimes substituted what was
punreat Tor what was true, to se their news. But
great many preachers did the same thing to sill their
pews Laughter AS the old lady IN Illinois ssid ;
Some thing aref ttn' to be done, but not fttn to be
talked about" The great danger nowadays with the
newspapers that they forgot this sage maxi'n
Yet newspapers as q class were improving. The good
and honest ones getting better the worst ones
were being compelled by their pubcs to become more
decent. MIR. Collyer admitted in confidence that he
read his Sunday morning paper at breakfast before he
retouched his for church. and thought he got
some good ideas that way.
Several of the members OF the union made fve-mn-
ute speeches One wanted an elite paper published
Another commended The Philadelphia Ledger az
the one clean and wholesome paper in Anerics An
other called the reporters bad names, like scaven-
eersr and earthwcrms" He was an old gentleman
OF full habit apparently and particularly sensitive